Safety-receptacle for merchandise.



J. I. PENNINGTON.

SAFETY RBGEPTAOLE FOR MBRGHANDISE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 12, 1914.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

K m y. 1 f 3 m I 9 m 5 J m g Q 6 Q. .J 1 /.m 8 6 wi/lmeooeo THE NORRIS PETERS C0..PH QTo-L:1H0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

JOHN I. PENNINGTON,

SAFETY-REGEPTACLE FOR 0]? BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MERCHANDISE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914..

Application filed March 12, 1914. Serial No. 824,131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN I. P-nuurue'rou, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain'ne'w and useful Improvements in Safety-Receptacles for Merchandise; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to receptacles for receiving and temporarily storing articles of domestic merchandise such as cream, milk, bread, grocers packages, mail and the like, has for its object the prevention of pilfering, petty thieving and contamination from cats and dogs, by depositing containers and packages in a receptacle-accessible to dairymen, delivery-men and postmen, and capable of being opened only by the occupant of the premises without the use of a key by either party to the transaction.

The invention consists in such a receptacle, which will be fully disclosed in the following specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification :-Figure 1 is a perspective showing he receptacle in position on a door jamb in position to receive merchandise. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale, showing the door open, the receptacle capable of being moved toward the door and in position to be detached from the jamb. Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section, showing the locking mechanism. Fig. 4: is a front view of part of the locking mechanism detached from the door, and Fig. 5 is a like view showing the latch engaged by the keeper on the door.

Reference being had to the drawings and the designating characters thereon, the numeral 1 indicates a conventional doorjamb, 2 a door and 3 the receptacle detachably secured to the door-jamb, but which cannot be removed or detached from the jamb so long as the door remains closed.

In the back 3' of the receptacle is a horizontally arranged slot 1 enlarged at one end to pass over the head of a screw 5 and on which screw the receptacle is supported and moved laterally, as shown in Fig. 2, to release the receptacle from the jamb.

6 indicates a gravity-latch, preferably having a long arm which is provided with a projection or catch 7 at its free end, and a short arm 8 to which a chain 9 or a piece of cord is attached, which extends through the back 3 of the receptacle and provides a ready means for disengaging the lever from a hasp and releasingthe door so that the contents may be removed.

10 indicates a housing in which the latch is supported on a pin 11, and the long arm extends through a vertical slot 12 in the front Wall of the housing to limit its vertical and lateral movement. The housing is provided with flanges 13 by which it is secured to the side of the receptacle.

14 indicates a member having a vertical wall 15 which is engaged by the arm 6, and an elongated or rectangular groove 16 in which a combined trip and keeper 17 operates. The part 17 is attached to or forms an integral part of a rod 18 which extends through and is supported at its inner end in the Wall of the member 14; 15, and the rod extends through the door 19 of the receptacle and is provided with suitable means such as a knob 20, or the like for operating the part 17 On the inner end of the rod 18 is a spiral spring 21, secured at one end in said rod, wound spirally thereon, and the opposite end of the spring secured to the member 14: to exert tension on the part 17 to return it to its seat in the groove 16 and to exert pressure thereon when it is performing the oflice of a keeper.

The operation is as follows: The receptacle is placed on the door-jamb, suspended on the screw 5 and pushed toward the door 2 with the part 17 lying in the groove 16, when the. door 19 of the receptacle is closed and latched, but not locked. The dairy-man or other delivery man can then open the door and place an article of merchandise in the receptacle. raises the part 17, and closes the door, 19 when the part 17 will rest upon the end of the latch 6 and hold the latch 7 in. engagement with the wall 15 so that the door of the receptacle cannot be opened. To open the door 19 of the receptacle, the door 2 must first be opened as shown in Fig. 2, the receptacle moved toward the door by sliding on the screw 5 until the chain or cord 9 reachesthe rabbet in the door-jamb when the latch 6'is raised out of engagement with the flange 15, when the door 19 may be opened and the article in the receptacle removed, or the receptacle 3 may be detached from the door-jamb.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the doorofthe receptacle hav-- ing been closed With the keeper 17 resting upon the inner end of the lever cannot be opened without first opening the door 2 which leads dwelling and the contents of. the receptacle are safe. g V The receptacle may be made --o f any'suitable material and of different dimensions to suit the uses. towhichit may be applied.

It isobvious that changes in details of ing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my inven-- tion, What I claim s:

for said latch 6, the door toan apartment or other alsoto secure {opposite end through the engagethelatchq whereof I aflix my signature 7 in presence oftWo Witnesses:

- construction may be madevwithout depart A receptacle provided with a gravity latch pivotally secured thereto, a. housing having an elongated slot in its Wall through which one arm of said latch extends, a m'embercn the door of the receptacle engaged by said latch and having a member constructedto raise the latchyand first member, 7 and a member engaging the of'the latch and extending Y In testimony 7 JOHN i1. PEN'NINcToNr Witnesses :.V V

-EDWIN R; DOWNES, I DANIELBILE f :Gopies rot this patent-maybe obtainqd i'orfive .centsieach, by.addressin-g the Commissio'ner'ofv Patents,

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it in engagement with the:

Wall ofthe receptacle to disi 

